Chapter 3

Night Shang's body darted to climb the tree, while he roared at the tamed leopard.

Unfortunately, at this moment, the tamed leopard had already weakened, unable to even stand up. This made Night Shang's heart tremble with shock. A formidable beast must have appeared; otherwise, the tamed leopard wouldn't have become like this. This was suppression, either by racial talent or cultivation.

As Night Shang was shocked, the beast also appeared, coming to the base of the tree.

Under the firelight, Night Shang recognized what kind of beast it was. It was a black python, a python with a body as thick as a bucket. As for its length, Night Shang hadn't yet figured it out; the tail of the black python was still hidden in the darkness.

While Night Shang was sizing up the black python, the python moved. Its massive mouth opened, and it bit the tamed leopard, which dared not move. As its mouth moved, a crunching sound was heard, and the tamed leopard's bones were crushed. Then it was swallowed into the black python's belly.

This happened in the blink of an eye. Regaining his senses, Night Shang hurriedly climbed the tree. The black python was too terrifying; he was far from its match. If he didn't climb higher, he would easily end up like the tamed leopard.

As Night Shang climbed the ancient pear tree, the black python's body wriggled to the base of the tree. It leaped up, its mouth aiming for Night Shang.

Sensing the danger, Night Shang grabbed a branch with his arm and swung his body upward rapidly.

Just as Night Shang left his original position, the black python bit the branch he had just grabbed, breaking it.

Hearing the crack behind him, Night Shang climbed the tree with all his might.

After climbing about ten zhang, Night Shang turned his head to look down. Not far from his feet, the black python's body was draped over the ancient tree, its two green eyes staring at Night Shang.

"Damn it!" After ensuring his safety, Night Shang muttered under his breath. The tamed leopard had been fine a moment ago, but now it had become the black python's meal.

Dare to challenge the black python? Night Shang didn't dare. This black python was clearly an intelligent beast, not a low-level one. The black iron spear behind Night Shang probably couldn't even break through the black python's scales.

Fortunately, the black python's body was too thick to be good at climbing trees. It could leap so high only with the support of its tail.

Unable to eat Night Shang, the black python stayed for a while and then left.

After confirming that the black python had left, Night Shang slid down the tree. Looking at the deep grooves on the ground where the black python had crawled, he felt a chill. He was lucky to have run fast; otherwise, he would have become the black python's food like the tamed leopard.

The package at the base of the tree was still there, but the tamed leopard was nowhere to be seen.

Holding the package, Night Shang climbed the tree to rest for the night, then continued his journey without stopping.

For the next two days, Night Shang traveled cautiously, encountering no danger.

Seeing the distant town and the tall ancient nanmu tree at its entrance, Night Shang knew he had reached his first destination. This was Ancient Nanmu Town, where the ancient nanmu tree was the town's landmark. It was one of the more prosperous towns in the area. From Ancient Nanmu Town, the journey to the Medicine Valley was long, but there were caravans, so he didn't have to travel alone.

Entering Ancient Nanmu Town, Night Shang found a teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, and took out some dried meat to eat.

There were restaurants in the town, but Night Shang was unwilling to spend money. Drinking some hot tea was enough to satisfy him.

As Night Shang was eating, several animal roars were heard, and three burly men and a woman with golden hair entered the teahouse.

Night Shang glanced up and then lowered his head to eat quietly. With his hunting experience, he could sense the killing aura from these people, just like a beast ready to pounce.

"Brother, this time we've collected too few herbs, and we can't find the black python. We probably won't complete the task," the woman with golden hair said.

"Hmm, it's Zhao Butler's fault. He said there were many Qingling Grasses here, and the black python's gallbladder is nowhere to be found. Sigh!" The bearded man, whom the woman called brother, sighed.

Hearing them mention the black python, Night Shang looked up.

"What are you looking at? Look again, and I'll gouge out your eyes!" The woman glared at Night Shang and shouted.

"Fourth Sister, don't take a child seriously." The bearded man glanced at Night Shang and said.

"Fine-looking, take him back to be a companion for the young master, not bad." The woman sized up Night Shang and muttered.

Night Shang drank the tea in one gulp, got up, and was about to leave. He didn't want to invite unnecessary trouble.

But sometimes, trouble finds you even if you don't seek it.

"Letting you be a companion for the young master is an honor, and you dare to leave directly? Stop!" The woman stood up and pushed Night Shang, making him stagger.

"Sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to." Night Shang rubbed his shoulder and said softly.

A companion? That's just a servant. Night Shang didn't even consider it. No matter how bad his life was, he wanted to live with dignity.

"Fourth Sister, why are you taking a child seriously? Sorry, young brother, where are you going?" The bearded man stopped the angry woman.

"I'm going to Chiyang City." Night Shang had asked Old Gu, and Chiyang City was the largest city on his way to the Medicine Valley and Danding Mountain.

"Chiyang City? We'll pass through Chiyang City on our way back, but we still have some things to finish." The bearded man was surprised and said, after all, Chiyang City was thousands of miles away, and it was hard to believe that a half-grown child like Night Shang would travel so far.

"Damn it, if we could find the black python, we could have left this cursed place long ago." The woman glanced at Night Shang and angrily drank her tea.

Hearing the woman's words, Night Shang fell into thought. He knew where the black python was. If these people killed the black python, they would go to Chiyang City. Following them would be more convenient than following a caravan, as caravans took a long time to travel and might not go directly to Chiyang City, making it more complicated to travel through many towns. Additionally, Night Shang was considering the risk and whether these people were reliable.

"What's wrong?" The bearded man saw Night Shang thinking and asked.

"I know where the black python is, but you have to take me to Chiyang City." After some thought, Night Shang felt he had nothing valuable to worry about. The worst-case scenario was that these people would break their promise and not take him. But if they kept their word, he would save a lot of time.

"You know where the black python is? Great! As long as we can find the black python, we'll safely take you to Chiyang City." The bearded man said excitedly.

"I know where the black python is." Night Shang nodded confidently.

"There's no wine here, let's go out for a drink and then set off." The bearded man said excitedly.

"I have wine, but I don't know if it suits your taste." Night Shang waved the two leather bags of wine he was carrying.

"Ha ha! I'm not picky. Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Sister, let's drink and set off." The bearded man patted Night Shang's shoulder and said loudly.

The bearded man's pat made Night Shang stagger.

"Brother, slow down, this young brother is still young." The man with a scar on his forehead, whom the bearded man called Second Brother, laughed and said.

Night Shang opened the leather bag, poured wine into teacups for the four of them, and then poured one for himself.

"Young brother, I'm Yang Sen. This is my Second Brother Du Chong, Third Brother Zhang Zongxuan, and Fourth Sister Lin Qiao." The bearded man, Yang Sen, introduced himself.

Du Chong and Zhang Zongxuan nodded at Night Shang.

Lin Qiao hesitated for a moment and then said, "Sorry about earlier."